World-famous drag queen, Trixie Mattel, adds her signature flair to a renovated Palm Springs motel.
Walk through the pink metal gates into a fantasy world created by the feisty and fabulous Trixie Mattel (a.k.a. Brian Firkus, when not in drag). This first-of-its-kind motel, owned and operated by a drag queen, has a bright and colorful design that will make you smile.
At this adults-only Palm Springs hot spot, with a retro desert vibe, guests can take a dip in the just-right-temperature pool, grab a snack in the all-pink lounge (replete with a Ms. Pac-Man game), or pull up a barstool in their room and sip a cocktail that matches their suite’s theme.
From a Run-Down Motel to a Pink Queer Paradise
In 2017, the idea first came to Firkus’ mind from the play on words: Trixie Mattel to Trixie Motel. He and partner David Silver thought about opening a vacation rental in their favorite LGBTQ+-friendly city, Palm Springs. Fast forward to 2020, when they found a pink (totally Trixie!) motel in Palm Springs that needed much TLC.
“I was on Zillow with a glass of wine, and this motel popped up because it was zoned as condos,” says Firkus. “I wasn’t even looking at commercial properties. I don’t believe in fate, but this motel presented itself to me.”
They purchased the hotel for $2 million and called for backup in the form of on-air renovation kings, HGTV’s Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott. The collaboration resulted in a Discovery+ show, aptly named Trixie Motel, that documented the entire metamorphosis of the property. The show featured a star-studded celebrity guest list, including Zooey Deschanel, Iggy Azalea, Leslie Jordan, and RuPaul’s Drag Race superstars, such as Monét X Change and Jaida Essence Hall.
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“We bought the motel before we were doing the TV show,” recalls Firkus. “We were doing it no matter what. I thought Trixie owning a ’60s California motel made a lot of sense. Even if you don’t know about drag, the Trixie aesthetic is so specific and has a sweet, immaculate, bellhop energy. It’s happy and bright with old prints.”
With an additional $500,000 investment, the original dilapidated Coral Sands Inn was transformed into an influencer’s dream. This was due to the hard-working, creative, and construction team that also included Firkus’ partner and co-owner David Silver, designer Dani Dazey, and project manager David Rios. The crew worked tirelessly in hopes of creating an experience that was inclusive, transformative, and memorable.
When thinking about how the motel makes people feel, Firkus says he envisions two things: people checking in and people checking out.
“I think about guests’ faces when they walk in. We live in a world where there’s so much wrong, but in this motel, when you walk in, it is immediate escapism. You walk into people smiling and drinking,” says Firkus. “And we’ve had people check out who have become friends with people in other rooms while they were staying here. We’ve also had people crying when they’re leaving, saying things like, “this place is so magical. I really needed this.” People who just needed a reset and need to be reminded of a little bit of magic and to feel like anything is possible.”
Sleep With Cowgirls (Or Aliens or Flamingoes)
Each of the seven unique guest rooms and suites reflect Trixie’s playful spirit. They all have different themes with matching custom-designed curtains, bedspreads, wallpaper, furnishings, and adorable vanities with Hollywood-type lighting.
Staying true to the nostalgic concept, you’ll also find a record player with a variety of vinyl available. The queen room themes are “The Queen of Hearts” (hearts and lips everywhere), “Atomic Bombshell” (galaxy overload), and “Malibu Barbara” (beach vibes). All rooms feature a vintage shower and a queen-sized bed.
The larger suites have kitchenettes with a small refrigerator, sink, coffee maker, and bar seating, as well as a vintage tub, small bistro dining table, and semi-private outdoor patio with seating. The suite themes include the “Pink Flamingo” (a homage to Trixie’s love of Palm Springs), “Power Flower” (for the hippie at heart), and “Yeehaw Cowgirl” (a nod to Trixie’s country music career).
The largest room, the “Oh Honeymoon Suite” is warm-toned, bee and honey motif with a built-in seating/dining area. Some of the lamps were painted by the late Leslie Jordan. Firkus comments, “It’s nice that we have some of his energy in the motel forever.”
Mom’s Homemade Cookies and Room-Themed Cocktails
Although there is no restaurant on the property, they do have a kitchen pumping out tasty treats, such as sweet and salty popcorn, Trixie’s nachos, margherita pizza and the must-have homemade cookies (made by David Silver’s mom).
Wash down the snacks with a signature drink to match the theme of your room, or try the Trixie Motel cocktail made with rosé wine, brandy, strawberry, orange, and lemon. The motel is conveniently located off Palm Drive, close to a variety of dining and shopping options.
A yummy breakfast basket is included with the stay and can be picked up in the lounge or delivered to your room. Breakfast includes croissants, jam, Nutella, yogurt, granola, orange juice, and coffee.
Shop, Swim, Lounge, Repeat
Guests enter the property through a gate that opens to the Insta-worthy pink-and-white striped pool area, which is the beginning of a beautiful sensory overload experience. They are greeted by a hospitable receptionist that leads them to the kitschy pink office where they get their room key (not keycard) and can shop for Trixie Motel memorabilia, like hats, T-shirts, bathrobes, swimsuits, tote bags, or tumblers. There’s also a collection of vintage Barbies, the inspiration for Trixie Mattel’s name (since they are made by Mattel), and her love of all things pink.
During the day, when you’re not hiking in the desert, shopping for designer garb on El Paseo, or taking a tour of the mid-century modern architecture, you can relax poolside, on a comfy chaise with a cocktail in hand. Or, you can grab a heart-shaped floatie and let your cares melt away in the heated pool.
Too much sun? Head inside to the plush lounge where you can chill on a heart-shaped pink velvet bench seat, take a selfie in front of the lip-outlined fireplace, or take a seat at the Barbara Bar (named after a Trixie song) and hit up the bartender for a nibble and a glass of rosé.
More Trixie Motels (or Campgrounds) to Come?
Even though Firkus says the renovation was stressful, challenging, and pushed him and Silver to their limits, he says they learned a tremendous amount and are thinking about opening other Trixie Motels.
“It’s a little like childbirth, I think, where you forget the pain, and are like, ‘I want another one,’” says Firkus. “We learned so much the first time. Now, I feel like it’s a waste to not do another one because now we know going into it and how to approach it.”
Firkus says he and Silver have discussed doing something a little bigger, but with standard (yet still beautiful) rooms that are all the same, so they can keep the price-point down. They also dream of opening a campground.
“Imagine a campground with themed cabins and drag queens with whistles and clipboards,” muses Firkus. “And you have a schedule where you go make bougie friendship bracelets and go canoeing after brunch with the gays and the women. I just think that would be so magical.”
Until then, the next time you’re in need of a mood lift and want to escape for a few days, head to the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs. It will be hard to leave without a smile and something pink to take home.
Room rates start at $550 a night with a minimum two-night stay.